A good end to the off-season for me would be this: 2 for 1 deal for a back-up vet PG. A true PG. Who could come in and do a decent job running the offense for 15 minutes per game, while mentoring Knight. The deal would also free up a roster spot for Ben Wallace to come back. He would be able to provide spot minutes off the bench, maybe 10 or 15 minutes, while mentoring the young guys in the frontcourt. Especially Drummond. Workout with them, work with them on defense, etc.

More long-term we need the young guys to develop. (Duh)

If Knight, Monroe and Drummond continue to develop, we'd be in good shape for at least 3 of the starting 5 (depending on how you feel about Stuckey). If English and Singler prove they can contribute something off the bench, then the team starts to shape up nicely. We'll see what Kravtsovcan do too.

We're still looking for our SF of the future though. I've lost faith in Daye, and have never had much in Singler. I see his best-case as being more suited to being a great back-up.

- get Ibaka more involved in the offense,Still need to give him more touches/shots- figure out if Aldrich can play,Backup C is his to lose now with Nazr gone- accelerate Jackson's development,Did ok at summer league, with full preseason we'll see. If he develops, Maynor would be movable.- ask Perkins to play better instead of scowling & getting T'd up,Still need to play better and be healthier.- pray Cook is making his 3s come playoff time & Now he needs to start figuring out how to make the lineup come playoff. With Maynor replacing Fisher minutes, his minutes should be continued to be squeezed.- cornrow Harden's beard.Somebody need to be more consistent.

Biggest Issue is resigning of Harden/Ibaka and trying to figure out what we'll do with our C salary moving forward. Still same concern.

Now that Ibaka is signed our biggest need is to sign Harden. And I think he will be signed. Bennett didn't steal the team for his buddies to give him crap about it being lousy. He's staying top of the line all the way. Which, of course, is exactly the right thing to do. So he will get the great owner merit badge. But he's still an evil bastard.

The next level of need continues to be development. Both players and coaching staff. The team needs to find a way past the Heat for sure. And probably the Lakers too because they got a lot better. At least this next season. Maybe Chuck's right. Maybe Brooks needs to refine the offense to find a bit more inside scoring. Perhaps Ibaka will show why he's worth $12M? I think integrating Maynor back into the second unit can only help. But the youngsters need to make their statements. PJ3 has a real chance here. So does Aldrich. Jackson better know he needs to be bringing it every practice, even if he won't get much playing time. And Cook better know that kid Hollis Thompson can shoot the 3ball. I would not be surprised at all to see Cook traded. Thabeet? Orton? I'm wondering why.

As for Perkins, I think there's always a role for a super tough big on a team. Especially when he has such a big heart. I think Perk brings way more to the team than the stats show. I know that I have a minority opinion, but I don't think the notSonics have a chance getting past the Lakers without Perkins.

A good end to the off-season for me would be this: 2 for 1 deal for a back-up vet PG. A true PG. Who could come in and do a decent job running the offense for 15 minutes per game, while mentoring Knight. The deal would also free up a roster spot for Ben Wallace to come back. He would be able to provide spot minutes off the bench, maybe 10 or 15 minutes, while mentoring the young guys in the frontcourt. Especially Drummond. Workout with them, work with them on defense, etc.

More long-term we need the young guys to develop. (Duh)

If Knight, Monroe and Drummond continue to develop, we'd be in good shape for at least 3 of the starting 5 (depending on how you feel about Stuckey). If English and Singler prove they can contribute something off the bench, then the team starts to shape up nicely. We'll see what Kravtsovcan do too.

We're still looking for our SF of the future though. I've lost faith in Daye, and have never had much in Singler. I see his best-case as being more suited to being a great back-up.

A good end to the off-season for me would be this: 2 for 1 deal for a back-up vet PG. A true PG. Who could come in and do a decent job running the offense for 15 minutes per game, while mentoring Knight. The deal would also free up a roster spot for Ben Wallace to come back. He would be able to provide spot minutes off the bench, maybe 10 or 15 minutes, while mentoring the young guys in the frontcourt. Especially Drummond. Workout with them, work with them on defense, etc.

More long-term we need the young guys to develop. (Duh)

If Knight, Monroe and Drummond continue to develop, we'd be in good shape for at least 3 of the starting 5 (depending on how you feel about Stuckey). If English and Singler prove they can contribute something off the bench, then the team starts to shape up nicely. We'll see what Kravtsovcan do too.

We're still looking for our SF of the future though. I've lost faith in Daye, and have never had much in Singler. I see his best-case as being more suited to being a great back-up.

Calderon for Magette does make a bit of sense, and i think a lot more realistic than a lot of piston fans want to believe. The only issue i see with Calderon is his lack of commitment on the defensive end and detroits new culture of commitment to defense first.

Additionally it Joe D was interested in magette before so i think detroit will wait and see if he can contribute. i think joe d is happy with the current roster, but i can see daye going out

I proposed Calderon for Maggette many times. I know Maggette's not great and what not but neither is Calderon and I honestly can't see Calderon bringing in a positive asset on his own. DET needs a PG and TOR needs a SF. It just makes sense

More or less like last year Memphis' starting five is set, with the biggest room for upgrade being at sg. I think they roll the dice again with this lineup, and hope that better health/internal improvement make them legit contenders.

There's no money for any upgrades, so while a vet pg is probably a need (unless one of Wroten/Selby/Bayless really steps up) they're more likely to move a bench player for small savings - once Arthur gets healthy either he or Speights could probably be had for a worse, cheaper player. Money worries aside I don't mind a bench lineup of Bayless,Poindexter,Arthur,Speights and am pretty happy to stand pat while we see what works.

"Kobe can't want $20 million more than winning another ring or two. So he must have made that decision...looking at this roster and seeing the potential for a contender in them"

needs:1. backup PG is still a question2. expirings, we have ~15.4 mil in 2 year contracts that we want to dump (MWP, blake, duhon) for expirings to seriously make a dent in that LT bill in 2013/14

concerning point 2, we'd do almost anything to get rid of those contracts, throw in any of the rooks or sophomores (djo, sacre, morris, goudelock, ebanks, clark), even jordan hill and his 6mil/2yr very reasonable contract

Ha. Hardly. MIA could start James at PF. And Bosh and Haslem could get the "4" minutes behind him. You guys can't afford K-Mart (the player, not the store), and at best, he'd be a 3rd string PF. Maybe 4th. It's kind of pointless for you.

GhostX wrote:Lakers need a backup SF that can shoot the 3...Ebanks is good but he's really a 1 dimensional defender. A guy like Pietrus would be perfect because he can strecth the floor and play average defense

Lillard seems like the real deal. Smith not so much. Still needs a lot of development. Price is ok for what he is: a reserve backup PG. What we really need is a vet PG who can run a team so we wouldn't rely too much on Lillard and to challenge him for that starting spot so he won't get too comfortable.

SG: Wesley Matthews / Will Barton / (Elliot Williams)

Matthews and his contract are great to have. Williams is always hurt ad doubt his body can handle playing in the NBA on a nightly basis. Barton needs to gain weight and still has a lot of growing to do. We need either a legit number 1 option or a hella good sixth man.

SF: Nicolas Batum / Luke Babbitt / Victor Claver

No telling if Batum is worth the contract he was given just yet. He needs to show a lot to warrant it. Babbitt is hot garbage against actual NBA talent, he needs to go. No telling what Claver brings to the table just yet. What I wouldn't mind at this position is a tall and another defensive minded player.

PF: LaMarcus Aldridge / JJ Hickson / Jared Jeffries

LMA is a top 5 PF (can make an argument for number 2/3). Is fine with our rebuild/retool. He's not going anywhere anytime soon. Hickson, although starting at the moment, could make a great big we need off the bench. Jeffries is a solid vet reserve. The only thing I could think of is a stretch 4 that can hit and make 3's but otherwise wouldn't change anything.

C: Meyers Leonard / Joel Freeland

Meyers has a lot of growing but could very well be our starting C if all goes well with him. Freeland also as a lot to show and could be our "Nick Collison" type of player. What I would like to have at this position is a defensive anchor and rebounds well whether starting or off the bench.

- get Ibaka more involved in the offense,Still need to give him more touches/shots, - figure out if Aldrich can play,Backup C is his to lose now with Nazr gone. Thabeet is our backup C.- accelerate Jackson's development,Did ok at summer league, with full preseason we'll see. If he develops, Maynor would be movable.With Harden gone, either Jackson ballhandling improve real fast of he'll see the bench.- ask Perkins to play better instead of scowling & getting T'd up,Still need to play better and be healthier.- pray Cook is making his 3s come playoff time & Now he needs to start figuring out how to make the lineup come playoff. With Maynor replacing Fisher minutes, his minutes should be continued to be squeezed.Moved to Houston so seemed like PJIII has beaten him for the 10th/11th man slot. - cornrow Harden's beard.Somebody need to be more consistent.He could go hairless now. Won't matter anymore

Biggest Issue is resigning of Harden/Ibaka and trying to figure out what we'll do with our C salary moving forward. Still same concern.

Resigned Ibaka for slighly higher, Offered Harden a good deal and without an agreement in sight, Presti moved him for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and picks. Presti like Picks

Lamb will probably be seeing the Dleague for a bit so he could get to know our sets for abit. Would be interesting to see what happen in the regular season once Thabo/Martin is injured. Deandre Liggins will probably play in place of Thabo while Lamb should get the chance when Martin is out.

Brooks like smallball so we can see Westbrook at SG, Thabo/Martin at SF, Durant/PJII at PF , Ibaka/Collison at C and Perkins on the bench. Nothing to not like with that idea though not for the whole game.

Positional needs seems to be a 5th big to be in suit. Will probably look to sign whoever left in FA or those released before playoffs. Can only see Martin being moved at the deadline if a big Presti like is available and Lamb has shown he is ready. Jackson could be moved if Maynor show he is back.